The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) is partnering with the U.S. government in a new initiative to train and certify supply-chain professionals.

The people who manage a company's supply chain determine what a company is made of - or at least what its stuff is made of. It's hard to imagine a more important role. And it's a difficult one.

The U.S. plastics industry is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, fueled by cheap and abundant shale natural gas that's made it more competitive with overseas markets, according to a report by economists at the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

ManpowerGroup's annual Talent Shortage Survey, reveals that 32 percent of U.S. employers report difficulties filling job vacancies due to talent shortages. This marks a decrease of 8 percent, falling from 40 percent in 2014. Globally, the percentage of employers experiencing difficulties continued to rise, increasing from 36 percent in 2014 to 38 percent in 2015.